Last night, the touring production of Flashdance played to a packed house at the Palace Theatre.
Based on the 1983 movie, the show centers on Alex Owens, a young steel worker who works as an exotic dancer at the club Hair in the evenings. Coming from a rough past, she yearns to study dance at the famed Shipley Academy of Dance, though she never received any formal training. Meanwhile, Nick Hurley, a member of the Hurley family steel empire, and subsequently Alex’s boss, makes a goal to date her. In all of this, the Alex and her coworkers deal with the potential closing of Hair and the rapid downsizing at the steel mill.
All of the ensemble perform remarkably and with the show’s demand of passion. Jillian Mueller plays a strong Alex with stronger dance chops, though prone with a few sudden outbursts of rage. Corey Mach balances this deep-seated anger with a more pragmatic touch, though most of his songs sound rather whiney. The ladies of Hair: DeQuina Moore, Ginna Claire Mason, and Alison Ewing add a touch more humor and harmony to the show.
Flashdance offers much in the way of spectacle. Costumes appear disgustingly 80s, and the lights and, at times, distracting projections provide an MTV concert feel. This production even features the water dance from the film. The music in its entirety sounds unreal; power emanates from every singer, and the band keeps it so tight they sound like a recording. Of course though, the dance is what people go to see, and this production surely delivers. Director and choreographer Sergio Trujillo fills the show with impressive displays of dance artistry as well as stunning visual portraits.
Though many will surely find this show enjoyable, the cliché and tired love story plot may bore some. The script seems too ignore some potentially interesting moments. At a steel mill where many face an eminent job loss, wouldn’t there be real resentment between the employer and the workers? Rather than dwell on this, touch on this actually, to provide an interesting subplot, the show takes a moment to contain a quasi-sexual harassment song and dance routine known as “Justice.” The script demonstrates concern over the fate of Hair, but few eyes are batted over the Hurley steel mill. In fact, the solution to this issue comes when a character quits—a not too uplifting lesson.
Plot annoyances aside, Flashdance brings world-class technology and design, dance skills, and musical talent to the Central Ohio region. It will not disappoint.
Flashdance is in town through Dec. 22 at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad Street and plays Wed.-Thurs. at 7:30 pm; Fri.-Sat. At 8 pm; Sat. at 2 pm; Sun. at 1 pm & 6:30 pm. Ticket prices range. More information can be found online at www.capa.com.
